Dance Debut And Finale

Battleworks Will Perform For The First Time In South Florida On April 29 And 30.

April 13, 2005|By Beth Feinstein-Bartl Special Correspondent

When Robert Battle's troupe, Battleworks Dance Company, takes the stage in Hollywood later this month, it will be a first for the former Miami resident.

Although Battle has danced at several local venues as a member of other troupes, the performances by Battleworks will mark the group's debut before a South Florida audience.

"This is a true homecoming," said Battle, 32.

His nine-member contemporary dance troupe will do two shows, at 8 p.m. April 29 and 30, at the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center.

Battleworks will mark the end of the 2005 dance series organized by the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood.

The 2005 season kicked off in January. Battleworks and four other contemporary dance troupes made up the series.

Joy Satterlee, executive director of the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, said public reception to the 2005 series has been outstanding.

"We've brought in well known dance troupes from around the country and have broken attendance records," she said. "With every dance performance, we've increased our numbers from last year."

Almost 900 people came to the most recent shows on April 1 and 2 by the Parsons Dance Company, Satterlee said.

"We're delighted Battleworks will be closing our dance season," she said. Battleworks, based in New York, was established in 2002. Battle started the group after leaving the Parsons, another New York-based modern dance troupe where he was a member from 1994 to 2001.

Battle's formal dance training began at age 14 as a student at the Performing And Visual Arts Center at Miami Northwestern Senior High. He graduated in 1990 from the New World School of the Arts in Miami. He then received a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance in 1994 from the Julliard School in Manhattan.

"I come from a household that always had music and poetry," said Battle, who was born in Jacksonville and moved with his family to the Liberty City section of Miami at age 4.

"It was a natural thing for me to be involved in the arts."

Growing up, Battle also sang in his church choir and played piano. But dance had a special place.

"It was something for me that had to do with freedom of expression," said Battle, who lives in New York City.

"I knew it would be a part of my life forever. In a way, I didn't choose dance, it chose me."

As artistic director, Battle stays mostly behind the scenes and choreographs the dances against a backdrop of music from classical to percussion.

He describes the group's performances as extremely physical.

"There are sudden leaps and falls to the floor. It keeps people on the edge of their seats," he said.

Following the performance, the troupe will attend a dance festival in Latvia, Battle said.

Pam Jarvis, of Miami Shores, said she and her family plan to watch Battleworks when the group comes to Hollywood. Battle is a longtime friend of the family. Jarvis met him when her daughter, Elida Wallack, was a student at the New World School of the Arts and Battle's dance partner.

Wallack, who lives in Miami Shores, has since become a professional dancer and instructor.

"We've known Robert since he was in the ninth grade," Jarvis said. "We consider him a member of our family."

When he is in town, Battle also gives master dance classes at the Peaches School of Dance in North Miami Beach, owned by Jarvis's daughter, Leslie "Peaches" Gettis.

Battle also conducts similar classes at the New World School of the Arts. Jarvis will be attending the Battleworks performance with Gettis, Wallack and another daughter, Linda Jarvis-Guerra, an actress and a drama teacher from North Miami Beach.

"This will be our first time seeing Battleworks," Jarvis said. "It's so exciting."

Jarvis said she always knew Battle was special.

"I remember picking up Robert to take him to school," she said. "He would be singing and dancing on his front porch. His mind was always thinking about making a connection with his choreography. He is a remarkable artist."